10 CLOVERFIELD LANE
Directed by Dan Trachenberg
Screenplay by Josh Campbell; Matthew Stuecken; and Damien Chazelle
Starring: John Goodman; Mary Elizabeth Winstead; and John Gallagher jr
During the preview that I was able to see I was asked to not give up to many plot points and or spoilers. Me? I do not do spoilers so no problem.
The funny thing about this film is JJ Abrams did not write it or direct it. However he produced this film and you can kind of see his hands all over it.
What you have here are three people in a bunker. It is intense. It touches a little bit on other films like ExMachina or maybe Room. You have read about people who prepare for the end of society by building bunkers, however it asks the question: Staying under ground, possibly with someone you do not trust or drives you crazy...is that the better option?
This film is intense, filled with twists and turns, and surprisingly a good amount of humor.
Three fantastic performances:
John Goodman....I mean has John Goodman ever been a film that sucked? Here he is fantastic.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead...I have only seen her once in The Spectacular Now and that was a small part. Here, as Michelle, she is in every scene and is wonderful doing a lot of this performance by emitting emotion with a look from a distance. This is a breakout performance.
John Gallagher Jr..he gives the film some dry humor as Emmett. He reminded me a lot Jason Sudeikis, but he is a much better actor than Jason Sudeikis.
Is this a follow up to Cloverfield? Is it an end of the world scenario or a crazy kidnapper story?
You are not getting that answer here!!!
4 1/2 out of 5 stars for 10 Cloverfield Lane. Wow!!!!! Close to a perfect film. Note: A perfect film to me has to be a film you want to see over and over and over again. After I watch this once, I am not sure after seeing the twist and turns and mysteries being revealed, I would want to see it over and over again. Yes and that is the only reason it did not get a 5 out of 5. This is what going to the movies is suppose to be...just a fun film, and by the way with a good soundtrack.
From the shadow as always thanks for your time as always.
Well only two films released for home viewing this week. They really are not that memorable.
PEANUTS
Directed by Steve Mortino
Screenplay by Bryan and Craig Schulz. and Cornelius Uliano
Based on the characters by Charles Schulz
Charlie Brown is trying to impress the little red head girl.
Snoopy is chasing the Red Baron.
It is an odd film. We have seen these story lines before, it is almost like then Schulz writers wanted to keep the Peanuts in a safe tried and true zone.
For kids who have never seen these story lines before it is a wonderful film. Funny and Entertaining.
For adults you think...okay...it is servicable as a film for the kids and yes they get a little bit of nostagia. For adults it is like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes, comfortable but nothing excting or different.
The look some people were thrown off by. It is much brighter and cleaner. Digital does that and I had no problem with that. To bring the youth or new generation in the film had to have a bright clean look.
3 stars out of 5 for The Peanuts Movie I think at home it is a nice film to watch.
IN THE HEART OF THE SEA
Directed by Ron Howard
Screenplay by Charles Leavitt
Based on the book by Nathaniel Philbrick
Starring Chris Hemsworth; Cillian Murphy; Brendan Gleeson; Benjamin Walker; and Tom Holland
Based on the 1820 event, a whaling ship is preyed upon by a giant whale, stranding its crew at sea for 90 days, thousands of miles from home.
Well I hoped you watched the trailer. The film looks like it is filled with action. Well not really. The film is about two hours long and only about a half an hour of it has action in it. The rest of the film feels like kind of a shell of a film. Like there is something there but it seems as distant as they are out in the water away from land. There really does not seem like a connection. I think the film lacks character development. So we are on the boat with these men but we are not really vested in their well being.
The good?
The film looks amazing!! Every scene we know is filled with CGI, but Howard does a fantastic job of making every frame look real and beautiful.
Also, Cillian Murphy is fantastic in this film, as he is in most films, as Matthew Joy. He is the one you care about the most. He draws you in, with you as the viewer only knowing a little about his past. He probably draws you in because next to the incomparable Gleeson, Murphy is the best actor on the screen.
It is just a hard film to like. Watching a bunch of men suffer. It is why this film just bombed on the big screen. Ron Howard needs a big hit soon. Well 2 1/2 out of 5 for a great looking film. It is worth a look at home.
ZOOTOPIA
Directed by Byron Howard; Rich Moore; and Jared Bush
Screenplay by Jared Bush and Phil Johnston
Starring Ginnifer Goodwin; Jason Bateman; Idris Elba; and JK Simmons
In a society of animals, a fugitive con artist fox (Jason Bateman) and a rookie and first of its kind police bunny (Ginnifer Goodwin) try to solve a conspiracy.
Well. We are into March and we have the best film of the year so far.
Like Inside Out from last year, this film takes real life issues and puts them into an animated film so all can understand the point. So timely. Zootopia touches on racism. Bullying. Keeping an open mind. Chasing dreams no matter what is said to try to hold you down. The key is it does not preach it, it does a nice job of giving gentle pieces of the problems and then showing how to deal with the issues. In a society run by big strong animals, a little bunny with a lot of determination can make a difference. With all that is mentioned about the film touching on timely subjects somehow the screenwriters make the film fun!!
Zootopia does a lot right:
Well I just covered a real good script. Yes it has lessons, but there is an interesting criminal investigation in this story also which keeps you interested. At that point it becomes a prettygood buddy cop film.
Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy Hopps and Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde are awesome.
Humor...Most notable the slugs, who are going to be stars like Sadness in Inside Out, and Yax played by Tommy Chong!! The naturalist had me laughing out loud. So did the mob/Godfather reference.
I will stop there because no spoilers, but I do have a couple of negatives:
It seemed a bit long at 108 minutes, it seemed to have too many endings.
The PG is a hard PG. I wish it was not but it is. It can be a bit scary in some parts for little ones.
4 1/2 stars out of 5 for this gem. How can we have our first Oscar contender in March!!!
LONDON HAS FALLEN
Directed by Babak Najafi
Screenplay by four writers
Starring Gerard Butler; Morgan Freeman; and Aaron Eckhart
In London for the Prime Ministers funeral, Mike Banning has to save the president again from terrorist.
Okay!!! You buy a ticket for this film because you want to see an action film. In that realm, this film is a success. In fact at the end of my screening the crowd in the theater clapped. So they got what they paid for.
You have to ignore a lot. Missing police officers. Odd decisions like, right away trying to walk in an open street to get to the embassy..JUST KNOCK ON A DOOR AND TELL THE PEOPLE INSIDE YOU WANT TO KEEP THE PRESIDENT HERE FOR 24 HOURS UNTIL THINGS COOL DOWN AND THERE IS DAYLIGHT!! Yes I know if they did that there would be no movie. Four Writers?
They have Morgan Freeman and Melissa Leo and they are barely used. In fact Melissa Leo I think only has maybe 3 line really? Four writers? Respect the Oscar winner!!
Okay positives:
The action and special effects work well.
Well Gerard Butler's Mike Banning is a fun character to watch, he is like a modern day John McClane.
There is a really good small performance by Charlotte Riley as an MI6 Agent. I think if they do another one she should be in it. She is an interesting character.
Leave your mind at the door you come for action you get it. 3 stars out of 5 for London Has Fallen. It is exciting in many parts.
WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT
Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa
Screenplay by Robert Carlock
Based On The Book by Kim Barker
Starring Tina Fey; Martin Freeman; Margot Robbie; Alfred Molina; Christopher Abbot; Billy Bob Thornton; and Evan Jonigkeit
Journalist Kim Baker (Tina Fey) time in Afganistan and Pakistan is covered in this film.
Well there is a lot here.
Kim's life is changing as her relationship with her boyfriend is taking a downturn.
Kim is starting a new job as a female foreign correspondent.
Kim is starting a new relationship, kind of, with a photographer played by Martin Freeman.
The film is sold as a war correspondent film but in reality it comes across as a work place drama with her new friend Margo Robbie.
Kim has this odd relationship with General Hollaneck played by Billy Bob Thornton.
Kim has an odd relationship with leader Ali Massaud Sadiq played by Alfred Molina.
Then there is what they call the forgotten Afghanistan war.
There is a lot here. Which makes the film very choppy. I do not think it is a bad film, I just think if we would have just followed Kim Baker navigating through work as a female war correspondent it would have been an interesting film and still with a little humor. I found the parts of the film when Kim is trying to get around the politics of Afghanistan and the politics of the old boys club of the army interesting enough. Plus dealing with her job showing the relevance of this forgotten war would have made this film cleaner.
Casting...
Molina soooo miscast and almost insulting. His character was not needed.
Martin Freeman miscast. No chemistry at all with Tina Fey. To be honest I really don't like Martin Freeman as an actor, so I come in to the film with that preconceived thought process that I just do not like him so I will not like his character. I know, not fair but I am being honest.
Some hidden gems?
A wonderful performance by Christopher Abbott playing Fahim Ahmadzai a kind of handler for Kim. He almost steals this whole film away, he is that good as Kim's handler.
Evan Jonigkeit as Specialist Coughlin is amazing in just maybe 10 minutes on the screen. His character stays with you long after the film is over.
Last note is that Tina Fey is very good here as Kim. This film is her best performance in a dramatic role.
It is funny I look at this review and I realize it is as choppy as the film. That just shows how much is crammed into this film and it is hard to even review. The film is in pieces and slightly boring in many parts.
3 stars out of 5 for Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. I think it is better to wait for home viewing and even there you may struggle to stay awake.
CREED
Directed by Ryan Coogler
Screenplay by Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington
Starring Michael B Jordan and Sylvester Stallone
The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.
I love a good sports film that really is not about sports. The Natural ...Good vs Evil/Darkness vs Light. Rocky to prove he is not just a bum from the streets. League Of Their Own...women finding their way in war time. Cinderella Man...surviving during the depression.
Now we come to Creed!! It is wonderful. Close to perfect. How does it work?
Well you have to have Sylvester Stallone be willing to take a backseat. Not only to Jordan but also letting Coogler direct and Coogler and Covington do the writing. By stepping back, Stallone gives maybe his best performance since the original Rocky.
Michael B Jordan here re-teams with Coogler after they did Fruitvale Station together, who, like Stallone, is perfect in this film. He may not get the recognition that Stallone gets in this film just because his character is angry and seems to always keep his head down and almost growls. He just does not get the funny and touching lines that Stallone gets.
It is a sports film but it is more of a film about two characters finding out who they are at different stages of their lives and finding purpose.
Exciting (The boxing match), Funny (Cloud), even touching (The last scene on the art museum steps). Finally the city!! The city looks beautiful. Philadelphia the city I love.
4 1/2 stars out of 5 for Creed. Close to perfect (That damn silly bike scene??!!). One of the best films of the year. What a great surprise!
ROOM
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson
Screenplay and Novel by Emma Donahue
Starring: Brie Larson; Jacob Trembley; Joan Allen; and William H Macy
TRUCK...WIGGLE OUT..JUMP...RUN!!!
Mom (Larson) has been locked away in a shed for 6 years. Kidnapped. Jack (Trembley) has been with his mom for 5 years in the shed in which he calls ROOM. After Jacks fifth birthday, Ma decides it is time to make a dangerous move to break away from their capture.
The film is real good. It sounds like a depressing film, and at times it makes you feel almost claustrophobic., however it is far from depressing, it is full on inspiring. It shows you the power of never giving up, and nothing is as powerful as a mother fighting for her child and trying to keep him safe physically and emotionally.
For Ma, there is the guilt and fear for what happens in ROOM and what is to come outside ROOM. A great performance by Larson. Sans makeup. Raw. Just the fear and love in her eyes.This is the best female lead performance of the year. It cannot be beat.
Then I come to Jacob Trembley who plays Jack. The film is on his shoulders. His little shoulders and he is amazing. He is in almost every scene. Watching him see WORLD and trying to deal with it (including stairs) is heartbreaking and exhilarating. Jacob is soooo good often just by watching, not saying a word.
Now for the movie itself. This is based on a book and it is 2 hours and I felt it was too short. I felt once out of room we were rushed through little pieces of their lives in WORLD. I wanted more of Jack talking to grandma (Another great performance in this film by Joan Allen) about life in ROOM and his thoughts on looking back at ROOM. How Jack adapted to Friends. How Ma assimilated into her new world. I even wanted to know more about the female police officer. William H Macy as Grandfather came and went. I wanted the movie to slow down a bit. Maybe because the actors were so good I fell in love with them and I, as the viewer, grew attached, which again is saying a lot about the performances. I wanted more.
4 1/2 stars for ROOM. Trust me...it is not as depressing as it sounds. Yes it can be sad, but it has you cheering and tearing and sometimes laughing. Wiggle out...jump...run... see it.
THE NIGHT BEFORE
Directed by Jonathan Levine
Screenplay by 5 People!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Starring: Joesph Gordon-Levitt; Seth Rogan; Anthony Mackie; and Jillian Bell
On Christmas eve, three lifelong friends, two of whom are Jewish, spend the night in New York City looking for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties.
I will get to the point...except for the church scene, which you see in the trailer, this film is shockingly not funny. Sooooo flat. And as I noted it was written by 5 people!!!
The three leads are just too old to be behaving this way and they come across as pathetic and self absorbed. There is nothing there.
Positives?
Michael Shannon as Mr Green the pot dealer is amazing in this movie!!!!! He steals the film....and yes Michael Shannon is funny!!! Who would have thought????!!!!
Lizzie Caplan......James Franco....Jillian Bell...Mindy Kaling....Miley Cyrus (Yes that Miley Cyrus) are all really good and funny here in their short time on the screen. They get more laughs then the three leads. Problem is, the three leads are in every scene.
1 1/2 out of 5 for this disappointment.
THE DANISH GIRL
Directed by Tom Hooper
Screenplay by Lucinda Coxon
Based on the book by David Ebershoff
Starring Alicia Vikander and Eddie Redmayne
A fictional love story inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda's marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili's groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.
The key word above is "Fictional".
So we have to go with what is in the screenplay.
First lets get the acting out of the way. Two fantastic performances by Redmayne and Vikander. Both picking up well deserved Oscar Nominations.
The problem here is in the screenplay. The screenplay comes across as cold. Cold in many ways.
Einar makes the decision to become Lili, okay fine, but the ramifications of that are never talked about. Meaning the ramifications of their relationship. The decision by doing one thing...destroys a marriage and it is never spoken about or reacted to. It seemed cold. Not saying he should not have done what he did, I am just saying he almost comes across as unstable and selfish by not having the discussion with his wife about their future. Now, because of this it all seems cold and unrealistic and odd. Now I did not read the book, maybe they did have conversations, but I can only go by the film. Yes she is supportive. Yes she loves him and her. She comes across as just as brave as Einar. Still it seems sterile and cold. And because of this the film seems ..odd..and off a bit. It almost becomes a story of a very cold break up....with no reaction.
3 1/2 stars out of 5 for the well acted The Danish Girl
YOUTH (gets released on a larger scale on the 8th of January)
Directed by Paolo Sorrentino
Screenplay by Paolo Sorrentino
Starring Michael Caine; Harvey Keitel; Rachel Weiz; Paul Dano
A retired orchestra conductor is on holiday with his daughter and his film director best friend in the Alps when he receives an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to perform for Prince Philip's birthday.
Pretentious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was sucked in by the trailer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By the sheep that gave this fantastic reviews!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The film goes on and on and on (I left during the credits and somebody was singing...so for all I know it could still be going on). I wanted soooo bad to like it.
This film can suck you in with little bright spots and then it leaves a subject and introduces a new character. Then it moves on again. Then you are sucked by something humorous and then it breaks away to imaginary actors. It has absolutely no rhythm. At one point Jane Fonda come in like she came in from another movie or stage playing Norma Desmond. Don't worry about her character however... like a lot of the characters in this film...it is not important. They move on and on and on to someone else. I am thinking Paolo was trying to be quirky, but it all fell flat.
Good Points:
The spa looked beautiful.
I do think it was Rachel Weiz's best performance in years!
When Caine and Keitel are walking and talking and Caine and Dano are walking and talking it seems pleasant enough.
There are a couple really good moment and some funny moments. Out of the 120 minutes....that will be about 10 minutes.
So we come to critics again. How can this film be getting such good reviews? I go back to the sheep factor. They cannot and will not go against the grain. They think this is so deep and smart it has to get a great review, like all the other critics/buddies write. They forget.....people pay to go to the movies!!!!!!!! They want to be entertained. They want to learn something. They want emotion!! Most moviegoers, not all, don't care about how deep it is with imaginary actors on a hill. Per example: We see over and over again a husband and wife eating and not talking. It is funny at first and then after seeing that scene over and over again it is sad. And then we see this old couple having sex against a tree. And that is the last we see of them. I am sure there is a deep meaning there but....I did not care!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted it to focus on Weiz or Dano.
2 out of 5 stars ...with the two stars being for Weiz and the 10 minutes of entertainment. This is the type of film that gives art houses a bad roll your eyes name. Go to an art house and support small films!! Go see Brooklyn. Room. Carol. Skip this one and watch when it come to home viewing if you must watch. It is a shame, because there is something here about looking back and longing for youth, but this got bogged down by a pretentious script.
As always thanks for your time from the shadows.
Now if you had the misfortune of seeing this here is how I will fix this boring arty mess because I wanted it to work:
Harvey Keitel's movie can go. That along with his film workers and Jane Fonda.
Dano's Hitler can go.....yes he dressed as Hitler.
The couple who do not talk needs to be seen only once.
The pee jokes can go...they got no laughs
The heavy rock star can go with the tattoo on his back
The guy who floats (yes you read that right)
With all this gone. You have an Hour and a half film about two friends (Keitel and Caine) an actor (Dano) a daughter (Weiz)...all staying at a spa for a week and talking about life changes and getting old and longing. Like Before Sunset series. Trust in the actors. Throw in more humor like this line that was in the movie: Weiz-I am great in bed I do not know why he left me. Caine: I know Weiz: How do you know. Caine: Your my daughter. Lines like that were funny. Or a funny video of a modern singer which was ridiculously funny. In other words fine a tone!!
